Marking-machine.



F. F. AKERLY. MARKING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED DEC.26.1914.

1,220,584. 7 Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

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F. F. AKERLY.

MARKING-MACHINE.

APPLICATION man 050.26. 1914.

1,220,584. Patented Mar. 27,1917.

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FRANK F. AKEELY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MARKIN G-IVIACI-IIN E.

Original application filed August 3, 1914, Serial No. 854,746.

tains to make and use the same, reference.

being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines or mechanisms by means of which any desired characters as, for example, various combinations of numbers or letters or both may be marked upon articles of various kinds and it has for its object to produce a simple and efficient machine or mechanism for this purpose.

Viewed in one of its aspects, my invention may be said to have for its object to produce a marking machine or mechanism in which any desired combination of numbers may be obtained quickly and easily.

It often happens that in adjusting a marking mechanism to obtain a given combination of characters, an error is made in one or more of the characters. It has heretofore been necessary to return the entire mechanism to zero or a neutral point in order to make the necessary correction or corrections; this involving considerable loss of time. Viewed in one of its aspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a machine in which an error may be corrected without affecting any of the characters or the mechanisms connected therewith, except the particular character to be cor 'ected.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects'and advantages, reference may be hadto the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine arranged in accordance with one form of my invention, a section of one of the parts being broken away;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 191W. Divided and this application filed December Serial No. 879,034.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine looking upwardly from the bottom of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 9, parts being, however, shown in section and other parts being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale of a fragment of the setting mechanism for the laundry marking devices, parts being broken away to expose other parts normally concealed; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. i.

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a machine for ma rking laundry articles or the like, adapting itparticularly for use as a part of the machine for marking, counting and listing articles disclosed in my prior application Serial No. 85%,7 l6, filed August 3, 1914:, of which this application is a division; but I desire to have it understood that my invention is not limited to machines or mechanisms for marking laundry articles or to one which is in any way combined with counting and listing mechanisms.

Referring to the drawings, 3 represents a suitable housing or casing partially open on the under side. l/Vithin the casing are arranged a series of wheels or disks, 5, six in number, all loosely mounted on a transverse shaft, 6. Each of the wheels or disks has on one side a thin pinion, 7, which spaces it from the adjacent wheel or disk. Each disk or wheel has on the periphery a series of characters, in the present instance the letters of the alphabet and numerals from 1 to 9. Extending across the casing 3 behind the set of marking wheels is a shaft, 8, on which are mounted a series of segments, 9, corresponding in number of the marking wheels and each having teeth which mesh with the teeth on one of the pinions, 7. Each of the segments is also provided with ratchet teeth, 10, adapted to be engaged by a suitable pawl, 11, to hold the segment against movement in one direction. The oscillatory movements of the pawls 11 are limited by two parallel rods, 12 and 12 extending across the casing 3, one on each side of a nose or projection on each of the pawls. The angle through which the pawls may oscillate is greater suitable push rods,

tends to hold it raised and keep the correthan that required to permit the pawls to ride over the atchet teeth so that when the pawls are retracted as far as they will go, a finger, 13, on each will catch under a spring pressed dog, 14, when the latter is in the propor position and the pawls will be held out of operative relation to the ratchet teeth. l Vhen the segments are in their normal positions, that is the positions which they occupy when the blank space, 15, .on the corresponding marking wheel is lowermost, the segments contact with the dogs iii: and hold them back clear of the pawls even though the pawls be at the limit of their rearward movement. The pawls, 11, are loose upon a shaft, 16, which projects through the casing and has journaled thereon a handle, 17. The rod 12 behind the pawls, 11, is stationary while the rod 12 )asses at one end through a slot in the wall of the casing 3 and is secured to the handle, 17. As will hereinafter appear, the segments tend constantly to return to their normal positions, corresponding to the idle positions of the marking wheels, and therefore, whenever the wheels are to be reset'to bring them all into their idle positions, the segments are all released by the mere act of grasping the handle 17 and turning it slightly so as to carry the rod 12 back against the pawls; the pawls being caught under their respective locking dogs 14: so that the handle 17 may be released immediately; and the segments then swinging back to their normal positions and, as they reach these positions, kicking the dogs away from the pawls and permitting the pawls to drop down into operative relation to the ratchets so that the parts are in proper condition to permit the marking mechanism to be readjusted. At the extreme end of the ratchet teeth on each of the segments is an inclined face or shoulder, 10, of greater height than the ratchet teeth; each of these faces or shoulders being adapted to engage with the corresponding pawl and swing it back far enough to be caught under the corresponding dog, 14, when the segment is turned as far as it will go from its normal position of rest, leaving the segment free to swing back as soon as the actuating force is removed.

The segments 9 are actuated by means of 18, each having a pin and slot connection, 19, with one of the segments and each having a spring, 20, which sponding segment in its normal idle position. The depression of the push rod against: the tension of its spring to the degree sets the corresponding printing wheel, while the pawl cooperating with the corresponding segment maintains the adjustment until the pawl is released as heretofore described and permits the spring on the push rod to retract all of the parts.

Since each marking wheel has a, great many diil'erent working positions it is necessary that the extent to which the push rods are depressed be nicely regulated in order that the proper marking characters will be a series of push buttons, 23, corresponding in number to the number of printing characters on each of the marking wheels. There are supported in the carriage adjacent to the push buttons a series of rotary rods or shafts, 24, one adjacent toeach of the push buttons. Each of the push buttons has thereon a cam-like arm, 25, overlying an arm, 26, on the corresponding rod or shaft, 2st. Each push button is held in its raised position by means of a suitable spring, 27. Each of the rods or shafts 2% is provided with-a radial lug or projection, 28, arranged at a point along the rod or shaft different from the points at which the lugs of'projections on all of the other shafts are located.

The parts are so proportioned that normally the springs hold the'push buttons raised while springs, 2e, serve to hold the shafts 24 in such positions that the fingers or lugs are retracted within the carriage. Whenever a push button is depressed, the corresponding rotary rod or shaft is oscillated and its lug or projection is caused to project beyond the inner line of the carriage.

Each of the push rods, 18, is provided with a radial finger, 29, projecting into proximity to the inner edge of the annular carriage.

The operation of this mechanism is as follows: Assuming that it is desired to set the wheel actuated by the push rod 1 to print the letter a, the carriage is turned around until the push button a is just opposite the end of the finger 29 on the push rod 1; the push button a is pressed down so as to swing the corresponding lug or proj ection controlled thereby beneath the finger on the push rod; and the push rod is then depressed until its fing'er engages with the lug or projection beneath it and "rests further movement. The push rod is locked in this position by the pawl and rack heretofore described, so that upon the release of the push button the latter assumes its normal position while the push rod remains locked in its depressed position. The carrlage is then turned to bring the desired character opposite the projecting finger on the push rod 2 and the second wheel of the set is adjusted. In Figs. et and 5 I have illustrated in detail sufficient of the struc ture to show how one of the push rods, the rod at is set, the parts being shown in full lines in their normal positions of rest and in dotted lines in the positions which they occupy when the push button for controlling the extent of depression of the push rod and the push rod itself are depressed.

The peculiar pawl and ratchet holding means for the actuating segments have a valuable function to which no reference has heretofore been made. In setting the several marking wheels, it may happen that one of the wheels is incorrect and will print the wrong character. If it is necessary to turn this wheel forward one or more steps in order to correct its position this can be done in the manner heretofore explained without interfering with the other wheels. If, on the other hand, it is necessary to turn one of the wheels backward through one or more steps, in order to make the correction, the holding pawl for that wheel prevents a direct backward movement; but, by pressing the corresponding push rod down as far as it will go, the holding pawl is kicked clear of the ratchet teeth and is caught under the corresponding locking dog therefor. Consequently, upon again releasing the push rod, the marking wheel whose position 15 to be corrected flies back to its normal position of rest and, as it reaches this position, the tail end of its actuating segment kicks the dog away from the holding pawl and allows the pawl to drop down into operative relation to the ratchet teeth; so that the wheel may then be set in position to print the proper character, in the manner heretofore described.

At the front of the base member 1 is a vertical depending portion, 30, on which is arranged a vertically slidable shoe, 3]., pro vided with a yieldably supported anvil, 32, which, when the shoe is raised, is adapted to engage with the printing points or line on the marking wheels. The marking wheels are provided with notches or recesses, 33, between the printing characters and the shoe, 31, is provided with a finder or finger, 34, preferably slidably supported in the same way as the anvil 32 and adapted to enter the overlying notches in the marking wheels and, if the wheels should happen to be slightly out of registration, bring them all into registration before the printingsurfaces come in contact with the anvil. The shoe 31 may be operated in any suitable way, as, for example, by means of a treadle, 35, connected to one end of a suitable operating lever, 36, whose other end is connected to the shoe. V

In the member just behind the shoe 31 is a well, 37, containing a yieldably supported ink pad, 38. Hinged at their upper ends to the sides of the casing 3 are arms, 39, between the lower ends of which is revolubly mounted an inking roller, 39*. The arms 39 are preferably made extensible, each having a spring, to, tending to maintain it in its shortest condition. This insures that the inking roller will always engage the printing surfaces with a yielding pressure when the arms 39 are swung" to ink the wheels as will hereinafter be described. A spring, tl, which may conveniently be placed between the handle 17 and one of the arms 39 serves to hold the inking roll normally in engagement with the pad. 011 each of the arms 39, projecting radially from their pivotal axis is a pawl-like finger, 42, and on the shoe 31 are a pair of upwardly projecting posts, 13, which engage with the pawls as the shoe travels upwardly and positively swing the arms 39 and the inking roller forwardly, carrying the inking roller in contact with the printing surfaces on the marking wheel.

This movement of the inking roller is completed and the pawls, by reason of the angular positions which they assume, are allowed to drop off the upper ends of the posts 43 so as to permit the inking roller to recede into contact with the inking pad before the anvil is lifted high enough to interfere with the roller or to be; interfered with by the roller. If desired, the inking roller may be provided with a ratchet wheel, at, engaging with a pivoted toothed member, so, so constructed that when the inking roller is swung forward to ink the printing characters on the marking wheel, the roller is caused to rotate so as to present the surface which was in contact with the pad while, 'upon the re turn movement of the roller, the ratchet teeth simply slip over the teeth on the mem ber 45 and the roller is not turned backward. With this arrangement the roller is progressively turned step by step in one direction.

Lthe marking wheels having been properly set to print the desired characters on a piece of laundry or other article, and the inkwell being supplied with ink; the article to be marked as, for example, a collar, 46, is laid on the anvil, the treadle is depressed and the shoe carrying the anvil and finder 34 rises, causing the marking wheels to be inked and then to be centered or brought accunately into registration, whereupon the piece of laundry will be pressed between the printing surface and the anvil and will receive the desired impression from the marking wheels.

I claim:

1. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices for said wheels, a carriage movable past said actuating devices, and means on said carriage adapted to operate on each of said devices when occupying a predetermined position relatively thereto to determine the position to which the corresponding wheel is to be moved.

2. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices for said Wheels, a carriage movable past said actuating devices, and means on said carriage for controlling said devices to determine the position to which a wheel is to be moved.

3. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, individual actuating devices for said wheels, a rotary carriage in proximity to said devices, and a plurality of controlling members arranged on said carriage and each adapted to be brought into-controlling relation to each of said devices one at a time.

4-. A marking machine comprising a series of charactor-bearing wheels, individual actuating devices for said wheels, a carriage movable past said actuating devices, and a series of stops differing in character from each other distributed along said carriage in position to be brought successively in position to limit the movement of each of said actuating devices when the carriage is moved.

5. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices for said wheels, a carriage movable past said devices, and means on said carriage for controlling said devices to de termine the positions to which the wheels are to be moved.

6. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices for said wheels, a rotary carriage arranged in proximity to said devices, and a series of stops arranged at different elevations on said carriage in position to be brought one at a time in controlling relation to each of said devices for the purpose of limiting the actuating movements of said devices and determine the positions to which the Wheels are moved.

7. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, means including depressible posts for actuating said wheels, a carriage movable past said posts, fingers projecting from said posts into proximity to said carriage, and a plurality of stop devices distributed along said carriage and arranged at different elevations, said step devices being each adapted to engaged with any one of said fingers to limit the movement of the corresponding posts.

8. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices including depressible posts for said wheels, a carriage movable past said posts, a series of push buttons distributed along said carriage, and means associated with each of said push buttons for limiting the actuating movement of each of said posts when the carriage is brought into a predetermined position relative tothat post.

9. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating means including depressible posts for said'wheels, a carriage'movable past said posts,fingers on said posts projecting toward said carriage, controlling stops on said carriage for engaging with said fingers to limit the depression of the posts, and push buttons on the carriage for rendering said controlling stops operative.

10. A marking'machine comprising a se ries of charactenbearing wheels, independ- I ent actuating devices'for said wheels, a carriage movable past said devices, normally idle controllers for said devices distributed on said carriage, and a series of push buttons on said carriage for governing said controllers. 7

ll. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, independent actuating devices including finger pieces for adjusting said wheels, an annular rotatable carriage inclosing said linger pieces, a series of controlling devices each including a push button mounted on said carriage each adapted to limit the movement of one of said linger pieces in a predetr-zrmined position of the carriage.

12. A marking machine comprisinga series of character-bearing wheels, means oscillating said wheels in one direction,

dependent holding devices for preventing backward movement of said wheels, means for simultaneously rcleas'eg all o'lf said holding devices, and means associated with the actuating means of each wheel for releasing the corresponding holding device when the wheel is turned to one limit of its movement.

ries of character-bearing wheels. means or oscillating said wheels in one direction, independent holding devices for preventing backward movement of said wheels, means .ior simultaneously releasing all o'l said holding devices, and means associated with the actuating means of each wheel for releasing the corresponding holding device when the wheel is turned to one limit of its movement and holding it in its release position until the wheel has returned to the other limit 01": its movement.

14. A marking machine comprising a series of clmracter-bearing wheels, means for oscillating said wheels including springs tending constantly to turn the wheels backand 13. A marking machine comprisinga se- 7 multaneously releasing all of said holding devices, and means for releasing said hold ing devices independently of each other when the corresponding wheels reach one limit of their movement.

16. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wh els, means for oscillating said wheels including springs tending constantly to move the wheels backward, holding pawls for preventing backward movement of said wheels, means for simultaneously releasing all of said holding pawls, and means for automatically releasing each of said holding pawls when the corresponding wheel reaches a predetermined position.

17. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, means for oscillating said wheels including springs tending constantly to move the Wheels backward, holding pawls for preventing hackward movement of said wheels, means for simultaneously releasing all of said holding pawls, a catch associated with each pawl for holding it in its release position, and means associated with each of said wheels for engaging its respective pawl with its catch when the wheel reaches a predetermined position and for releasing the pawl from the Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of catch when the wheel is moved backward to another predetermined position.

18. A marking machine comprising a series of character-bearing wheels, means for oscillating said wheels including springs tending constantly to move the wheels backward, holding pawls for preventing backward movement of said wheels, and means for automatically releasing each of said holding pawls when the corresponding wheel reaches a predetermined position.

19. In a marking machine, marking wheels, an inking roller, pivoted arms between the ends or which the roller is mounted, a spring for holding the arms and rollers retracted, a pawl on one of said arms, a support for an article to be marked movable it'rom and toward said wheels, and a part on said support adapted to engage with said pawl to swing the roller into contact with the wheel. and again release it when the support is moved toward said wheels.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK F. AKERLY.

Witnesses WM. F. Fnnnnnnnmon, RUTH E. ZETTERVALL.

Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

